The cases of weary, sardonic British homicide detective Jane Tennison (Emmy-winner Helen Mirren), a flawed but sympathetic heroine who adopts a cutting persona to deal with her grueling job and uncertain relationships. Episodes have aired on PBS's `Mystery (more…)The cases of weary, sardonic British homicide detective Jane Tennison (Emmy-winner Helen Mirren), a flawed but sympathetic heroine who adopts a cutting persona to deal with her grueling job and uncertain relationships. Episodes have aired on PBS's `Mystery!' and `Masterpiece Theatre.'

In the final series, Detective Superintendent Tennison is pushing 60 and facing the death of her father. Alcohol, loneliness, and the job have taken their toll, but she is determined to end her exemplary career by solving one more case: the brutal murder of schoolgirl Sallie Sturdy. Weeks away from retirement and struggling to stay afloat, Tennison forms an emotional bond with Sallie's closest friend, Penny Philips, and unwittingly puts the teenager's life in danger. Guest stars include Frank Finlay (The Pianist), Stephen Tompkinson (Wild at Heart, Brassed Off), Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot), and Eve Best (Nurse Jackie).

In the final series, Detective Superintendent Tennison is pushing 60 and facing the death of her father. Alcohol, loneliness, and the job have taken their toll, but she is determined to end her exemplary career by solving one more case: the brutal murder of schoolgirl Sallie Sturdy. Weeks away from retirement and struggling to stay afloat, Tennison forms an emotional bond with Sallie's closest friend, Penny Philips, and unwittingly puts the teenager's life in danger. Guest stars include Frank Finlay (The Pianist), Stephen Tompkinson (Wild at Heart, Brassed Off), Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot), and Eve Best (Nurse Jackie).

In Series 5, Detective Superintendent Tennison relocates to the Greater Manchester Police for a stint as a community relations officer at local schools. When she complains to her new boss, DCS Ballinger, he assigns her to the shooting case of a young drug dealer. Tennison pegs a corrupt local drug lord as the killer, but somehow he stays one step ahead of her investigation. Is he getting inside information? Meanwhile, Tennison engages in a romantic affair that complicates her life even more.

In Series 4, the newly promoted Detective Superintendent Tennison moves among stations to head high-profile cases for the Area Major Investigation Team. The Scent of Darkness finds Tennison happy in her private life, but strained at work. New murders cast doubt on a case she solved previously, to the delight of an old adversary.